Adaptive EV pedal stroke

Abstract

This application discusses various ways to adjust the performance of a variable input control in accordance with previous use data. In some embodiments, the previous use data can be associated with particular users of the variable input control. In this way, a response provided by the user input control can be adjusted to accommodate particular patterns of use on a user by user basis. In some embodiments, the variable input control can take the form of an accelerator pedal of a vehicle. Performance of the accelerator pedal can be adjusted by changing an amount of engine power provided for a particular accelerator pedal position. The adjustment can arrange commonly utilized power settings in the middle of the accelerator pedal range of motion to make manipulation of the accelerator pedal more comfortable and convenient for each user of the accelerator pedal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An vehicle control system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle control unit configured to control a flow of power from a battery of the vehicle to an electric motor of the vehicle; 
 a variable input control in electrical communication with the vehicle control unit and configured to receive inputs transitioning the variable input control among multiple control positions, each one of the control positions corresponding to a different amount of power being supplied to the electric motor by the battery; and 
 a storage device configured to store an amount of power supplied to the electric motor at a given time; and 
 wherein the vehicle control unit is further configured to send signals to adjust the amount of power delivered from the battery to the electric motor for one or more of the control positions to obtain a control position located within a central range of the variable input control, the control position corresponding to an average amount of power stored in the storage device. 
 
     
     
       2. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the variable input control comprises an accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       3. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle control unit adjusts the amount of power associated with multiple control positions so that moving the accelerator pedal within a low range of the accelerator pedal changes the amount of power supplied to the electric motor by the battery substantially more than moving the accelerator pedal the same amount within the central range. 
     
     
       4. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a user identification system configured to determine an identity of a user of the electric vehicle,
 wherein each of the recorded user inputs is stored in a user profile on the memory storage device associated with the user that made the user input. 
 
     
     
       5. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a navigation system, wherein location information provided by the navigation system is recorded to the storage device and associated with a corresponding amount of power supplied to the electric motor at the location. 
     
     
       6. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a timing system, wherein the information stored in the storage device also includes timing information provided by the timing system. 
     
     
       7. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 5 , wherein when the amounts of power recorded are substantially different for a particular location or route than other amounts of power recorded outside that particular location or route, the processor generates a separate user profile for the user to record user inputs received at that location or along that route, the separate user profile being engaged only when the navigation system identifies the electric vehicle is being operated along the particular location or route. 
     
     
       8. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the vehicle control unit alters a correlation between an amount of power output by the electric motor and control positions of the variable input control when the electric vehicle is operated along the particular location or route. 
     
     
       9. The electric vehicle as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the vehicle control unit adjusts the amount of power so that the average amount of power recorded by the storage device corresponds to the center of the central range of the accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       10. A method for adjusting a response provided by a variable input control configured to govern an amount of power supplied to a vehicle motor of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving an input at the variable input control; 
 storing an amount of power supplied to the vehicle motor in response to the user input to in a storage device at a given time; and 
 adjusting the amount of power supplied for a given user input at the variable input control in accordance with stored amounts of power in the storage device so that an average amount of power supplied to the vehicle motor is biased towards a central range of the variable input control. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying a user operating the vehicle, wherein storing the user input to a storage device comprises storing the user input to a user profile associated with the identified user. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein identifying the user operating the vehicle comprises identifying an electronic device being carried by the user that is associated with the user. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a key fob. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising readjusting the amount of power supplied for a given user input while a user is operating the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the readjusting is performed in response to an average amount of power requested by the user changing by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       16. A control system suitable for controlling power delivered from a battery to a motor of a vehicle, the control system comprising:
 a user input control configured to send a first signal when a user moves the user input control to a first control position and a second signal when the user moves the user input control to a second control position; 
 a storage device configured to store an amount of power delivered to the motor during operation of the vehicle at a given time; and 
 a vehicle control unit configured to receive the signals from the user input control and transmit a power signal that adjusts a flow of power from a battery of the vehicle to the motor, 
 wherein the vehicle control unit is configured to adjust an amount of power supplied in response to the first signal by a first amount and the amount of power supplied in response to the second signal by a second amount different than the first amount, the adjustments being made in accordance with the stored amount of power over a period of time. 
 
     
     
       17. The control system as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a user identification module configured to determine an identity of the user of the vehicle. 
     
     
       18. The control system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the storage device stores the amount of power requested and the identity of the user. 
     
     
       19. The control system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the user input control comprises an accelerator pedal. 
     
     
       20. The control system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein a correlation between the amount of power supplied and motion of the user input control takes the form of a power curve and wherein the power curve has a substantially greater slope in a low range of the power curve than in the central range of the power curve when the average amount of power recorded by the memory storage device is greater than half the available power from the motor.